John Walter Murray III, age 71, of Elkton, MD passed away Tuesday, December 24, 2024. Born in Wilmington, DE on October 26, 1953, he was the son of the late Jack and Ethel Murray.

John was a proprietor of State Line Liquors, Elkton, MD for over 40 years, building lasting relationships with customers, mentoring other passionate wine minds, becoming a true cornerstone of the local business community and a legend within the world of domestic wine. John frequently traveled to vineyards and wineries in California, Oregon, and Washington. John couldn't go anywhere without running into someone he knew, however obscure and surprising!

John was raised with proper sportsmanship under the tutelage of his late father, Jack Murray. John was a second generation graduate of Salesianum School in Wilmington, DE, where he excelled on the football and baseball fields. After his high school graduation in 1971, John played many years with the State Line men's softball team and followed in his father's footsteps coaching football and baseball. John loved coaching his children and sharing his knowledge of sports fundamentals with young athletes. He was a total sports junkie, especially passionate about the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, and any team his children played on or coached.

He was extremely supportive and proud of his wife's judiciary career, from law school all the way to Circuit Court.  John was a proud member of the Elkton Rotary Club, always bringing along "the Judge." His community was one of the most important things to him aside from his love for his family. Often heard before being seen in public, John's boisterous personality was called on by others to garner attention at meetings or gatherings when necessary. He always enjoyed visiting Uncle Jimmy at North Street for a cold Budweiser. He also loved traveling, frequently visiting Disney World, Wine Country, and Stanley, Idaho — his favorite places in the world aside from his house on the Elk River. He notably enjoyed listening to the Grateful Dead, especially in the car to the dismay of "the Judge."

John was known to always have a good story to tell and those that knew him have their own fair share of these tales. He had a bellowing voice, a contagious belly laugh, and a cheesy, loving personality. He was beloved and well respected, complete with a kind and generous heart. He knew how to keep genuine lifelong friendships and relationships, always knowing who to reach out to when traveling across the world.

He will be dearly missed by his wife and best friend of 40 "long" years, Judge Jane Cairns Murray; daughter, Aileen Murray and her husband Richard Bates, and son, John Branch Murray IV; siblings, Joan MacKenzie, Robert Murray, Marcella Lockwood (husband Wayne), Maureen Murray, and Marguerite Murray LaNovara (husband John); father-in-law, Edward Cairns, brother- and sister-in-law, Dave and Marta Cairns; and a heap of nieces and nephews all missing their Uncle John/Sid.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Sally; brother-in-law, Michael; and sister-in-law, Bettie.

Interment will be private in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Elkton, MD.

Celebration of Life will be held from 2 PM - 6 PM, Saturday, March 15, 2025 at Singerly Fire Hall, 300 Newark Avenue, Elkton, MD 21921. Dress in your best tie-dye or sports team attire. Interment will be private in Immaculate Conception Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Salesianum High School, Elkton Rotary, or Elkton Little League.